Heat exchange and sound absorbing wall unit



Oct. 13, 1953 SIERING 2,655,348

HEAT EXCHANGE AND SOUND ABSORBING WALL UNIT Original Filed March-I5, 1949 IVIIIIIJ. UIIIII INVENTOR $554? ,4 J/EP/Nge A TORNEY Patented Oct. 13, 1953 2,655,348 HEAT EXCHANGE AND SOUND ABSQRBING "WALL UNIT Robert L. Siering, New York, N. Y., assignor to JohnseManville Corporation, New York, N. -Y., acorporation of New York Continuation of application Serial No. 79,349,

' March 3, 1949.

from and supportedbyzthe ceiling, andcross par- :titions between and supported @by the main nartitions to provide :a -checkerboard or egg crate eifect ,with :the ceiling exposed between the paretitions. "The construction .provides an eflicient acoustical treatment and, at the same time,eniables the ceiling to .be used for radiant heating. :the exposed :areas defining .the heat radiating surfaces.

.A principal .object of :the -;instant invention is the provision /of ;an acoustical treatment of the :general type of that referred ;to .above and em- ;ploying a number of its construction features, .but whichutilizes-thewalls of the partitions as the radiant heating surfaces.

Another obl'ectofthe. invention isthe. provision of ,a structure comprising sound absorbing par- ;titions having-heat-90nducting and; radiating side .walls heat conductingrelationship with con- .du ts co v yin a hea in m um such as h t water the p tit an nd i s bein :s

pended from the permanent ceiling.

Anotherobjector. theinvention is the provision o a t r o h tyne-r war i which h c nduit sar .:,s nend d.e ;int val binari e r th r anee :h ri =le i iweinel e i ndili su p t ace e r h co t sha d ;e sine hic eeri h rerii iqewr n este :t surround te -seed i wi h 2 1 .12 m. ed e .-;Q s d wall iQ liec an l 9 th ca in secured vtoathe suppotts.

p A further, object? of V the invention is the .pro-

-vision of aceiling structure which; permits the circulation of air; from a plenum chamber -;into .the vU -.shaped casings through perforations ,in; their walls. .to-enter the. room as, a distributed ,air flow.

A oth .qbiecee ih inven n is t v si ian-a ou ica ireeiment om i di ie l am h at n he-co tru io fe t r om n e .assembly and. adisassembly.

"My invention will be more fully understood'and further objects :and advantages thereof become apparent when reference is made to thefollowing --detai-led descriptionv .of..a. preferred embodiment and to the accompanying :drawings: in which:

This application 1949. SerialNo.-127,963

Ncve'mber 17,

Fig.1 is a perspective view of a room interior illustrating a ceiling of theinstant invention;

Fig. 2 is a' sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 2-1 of Fig. 1; s

Fig. 3 is'a sectional view, taken on the .line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the manner of assembly of the partitions.

Referring now'to the'drawings, there is shown a treatment in accordance with the instant in- .ventionapplied to aceilingoia room. However, it will .be appreciated that otherwalls may .besimi- .-1arly treated. The structure comprises spaced partitions 1H1 extending preferably from wall to wall of the room and suspendedfrom a base'or .ceiling slab .1 2, and cross partitions or units 1. supported from the partitions ID. The support for the unitsllis of the-type disclosed inmycopending application andwill be more specifically described later. In the preferred embodiment partitions J0 and I4 are both sound absorbers. I-he partitions are; of. suitable depth,.s ay 6" to 12' Referring now particularly to Figs. 2, 3 ,and .4, the .constructionieatures of ,the partitions and the supportingstructurewill be described. Hang- .e'rsor rods ifiare securedtothe ceiling slab l2 g-inv rows, therows being spaced. at suitable inter- ..vals, depending upon the desired spacing of the partitions. -For ,.exa inple, the rows may ,be.24

u apart. Thehangers preach roware spaced apart a distance approximatelyequal .to the length of individualunits I8 (see Fig. 4) making up the .main r longitudinal partitions. Each of the hangers .is. made 7 up, of ,an upper section 1 2 0 and .a. lower section;22 in left and right-hand threaded engagement, respectively, with .a connecting =sleeve ,24, .the lat t er ;having a dame 25 at its .lpwerend. n nutyzfi threadedon thesection {22 below sleeve #4, the flange and nut being adapted to, embrace. a, strip-.30. strip 30 extends longitudinally of; therow. ethangersand is provided with-notches t32. opposite thehangers whereby-it may-belaterally inserted intopositicn. The

lower end of section 22 carriesqa loop- 34. A con- Quit r 36 extendslongitudinally of .the row of hangers andiithr'ou'gh the aligned loops. ..The

,j'conduits dof thev several rows are connected to supply and ,returnheaders (not shown), orare in the form of a coil connected to supply and -returnlines, whereby aheating. medium such as hot Watenmaybe circulated through they conduits. 'S-trip,3,0.is:spaced above-the bottom of conduit36 a distance subs tan ially:equal to, but preferably. slightly less than the hei ht of the .1 partition.

Strip has its lateral edges bent backwardly and then forwardly into U-shapes to define pockets 38. The strips are also provided with openings M! at intervals to permit the passage of air or other fluid through them. Lugs 42 are struck up from the metal of the strips at suitable intervals, the lugs preferably, as shown, being formed from a portion of the metal removed in forming openings M. The lugs define stops for panels M. forming an inner or false ceiling, the panels having their marginal edges resting on the strips.

Panels id may be of any suitable material to provide the desired decorative or other effect. For example, they may be translucent panels and lighting means may be placed above them whereby a diffused lighting effect is obtained. On the other hand clear glass or panels of asbestos cement or other decorative materials may be used.

The partitions iii are composed of theendwise adjacent units i8, each comprising an elongated U-shaped metal casing of the type disclosed in my said copending application and consisting of side walls 45 connected at their lower edges by a bottom wall 38. 'The casings are of a length substantially equal to the spacing between hangers It, as previously mentioned, and are of a suitable gauge of metal, such as sheet steel of 22 to 2% gauge. At least the side walls are provided with a multiplicity of closed spaced sorbing ceilings of the type as shown, for example, in patent to Norris, No. 1,726,500, issued August 27, 1929. The upper edges of the side walls are provided with inturned flanges 52 for reception within pockets 38 at the margins of strips 30. As will be noted, pockets 38 are spaced apart a distance greater than the width of base 48 whereby the side walls flare upwardly and outwardly.

The casings making up a partition enclose the corresponding conduit 38, the latter lying adjacent the lower wall 48 of the casing. The width or the casing at this point is substantially equal to the diameter of the conduit whereby the side walls are in contact, or substantially in contact with the conduit. A mass of heat conducting material 54 is inserted between the bottom wall and the lower margins of the side walls to provide a heat conductive bed in which the conduit lies. The heat conducting material 54 may be a mass of tightly packed metal foil or iron filings, or the like.

The hollow interiors of the casings contain sound absorbing bodies 56, such as pads or mats of mineral wool or other fibrous material. The pads are centered within the casing, and the side walls are pressed resiliently outwardly from the pads by members 58 made of springy metal and spaced at suitable intervals longitudinally the cross partitions [4 as will be later more fully described. Also, pairs of the slits may be provided at an intermediate point where an intermediate cross partition is desired. It will be noted that the upper slits 60 of a pair are spaced further apart than the lower slits 6| to maintain the side walls of the cross partitions in upwardly and outwardly flaring relationship.

The units making up the cross partitions 14 are of similar type to the units of the longitudinal partition, except that no provision need be made for the reception of the conduit 35 and, hence, the pads and the springy spacing elements may extend the full height of the casings, the units preferably being the same as shown in my said prior application. The end edges of the casings are provided with upper projections 52 and lower projections 6d spaced apart the same distance as the slits B8 and 5| in the partitions iii.

In erecting the treatment of the instant invention, sections 28 of hangers 1d are mounted in any suitable manner in the ceiling slab to extend downwardly therefrom. Conduits 36 are mounted in the loops 34 of sections 22 of the hangers and the two hanger sections are connected together by sleeve 34. Due to the right and left-hand threads leveling of the conduits may readily be achieved. The longitudinal strip 38- overlying each partition is assembled on the'han'gers and nut 28 is tightened to embrace the strip between the nut and the flange 2t. Panels 44 may then be placed in position with their marginal edges overlying the margins of the strips and abutting against stops 42. However, the panels may be mounted at a later time if desired.

The sound absorbing units are placed one at a time around the conduit and secured to plates 38, the manner of assembly being best illustrated in Fig. 4. The casing containing the bed of heat conductive material 54 adjacent its bottom wall is slipped laterally onto the conduit, and the spring element 58 and sound absorbing pad 56 inserted. The unit is then swung on the conduit as a pivot to an upright position, and flanges 52 inserted in pockets 33 of the strips 30. Inasmuch as the metal of the casings is of relatively light gauge and flexible, the casings may readily be deformed to the extent necessary to force them between the rods or hangers IS. The units, when in position, lie in relatively close, endwise relationship. 7

When the longitudinal partitions [0 are completed, the transverse units are mounted by forcing their side panels toward each other until they diverge to the same extent as the slits 6H and SI, and then springing the side panels of the partitions it) inwardly to permit projections 62 and B4 to enter the slits. This operation is the same as that described in my copending application. The transverse units are held firmly in position, both by the pressure of the side panels of the partitions ii} against the ends of the units, and the outward pressure of the side walls of the transverse units. Whenever it is necessary or desirable to remove the transverse units for any reason, the side panels of the partitions if) need only to be sprung inwardly sufficiently to permit the projections on the units to be released from the slits.

The construction provides an attractive, easily assembled ceiling treatment which presents a large area of sound absorbing material to the sound to be absorbed. At the same time the side walls of the longitudinal partitions provide radiant heating surfaces to which heat is conducted from conduits 36. The spaced members 58 serve, in addition to their other functions, as conductors of heat to the upper portion of the walls, thus increasing the heat radiating effectiveness of the entire casing walls. Due to the slant of the side walls the heat rays are directed to all points of the room space. Although the longitudinal partitions l0 supply the major radiating surfaces, heat will also be conducted to the transverse partitions whereby they will also serve as heat radiating surfaces, at least to some extent. Fresh air, preheated or not as desired, may be introduced into the plenum chamber defined by the panels 44 and the ceiling slab, the fresh air entering the partitions through openings 40 and filtering into the room through the numerous perforations 50.

The system is extremely flexible. Any number of the transverse units may be employed to supplement the sound absorbing effect of the longitudinal partitions as well as to provide a desired ceiling pattern. Light diffusion is provided by the partitions and this may be augmented and the light source obscured by employing a light diffuser, such as a frosted glass or plastic for the panels 44, and locating the light source above the panels.

Having thus described my invention in rather full detail, it will be understood that these details need not be strictly adhered to but that various changes and modifications may suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, all falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a treatment for a wall such as a ceiling a conduit, means suspending the conduit from the wall, a sound absorbing partition having sound pervious heat conducting and radiating walls enclosing said conduit and in heat conducting relationship thereto, sound absorbing means between said walls, and means supporting said partition from said suspension means.

2. In a treatment for a wall such as a ceiling, a conduit, means suspending the conduit from the wall, a sound absorbing partition comprising U-shaped metal casings having sound pervious walls enclosing the conduit with the conduit adjacent the base of the U in heat conducting relationship therewith, sound absorbing means within said casings, and means supporting said casings from said suspension means.

3. In a treatment for a wall such as a ceiling, a conduit, means suspending the conduit from the wall, a sound absorbing partition comprising U-shaped metal casings having sound pervious walls, means positioning the casings with the walls enclosing the conduit and with the conduit adjacent the base of the U in heat conducting relationship with the casings, sound absorbing pads within said casings, and means spacing the pads from the side walls of the casings and adapted to conduct heat to the upper portion of the casings.

4. In a treatment for a wall such as a ceiling, a conduit, means suspending the conduit from the wall, a sound absorbing partition comprising U-shaped metal casings having sound pervious walls, means positioning the casings with the walls enclosing the conduit and with the conduit adjacent the base of the U in heat conducting reletionship with the casing, said heat conducting relationship being defined in part by a bed of heat conducting material between the conduit and the base of the casings, and means for absorbing sounds penetrating said casings.

'5. In a treatment for a wall such as a ceiling, a conduit, rods suspending the conduit from the ceiling at intervals, a partition comprising U-shaped metal casings enclosing the conduit with the conduit adjacent the base of the easings and in heat conducting relationship with the casings, said casings including outwardly and upwardly extending side walls, supports carried by said rods above said conduit, and cooperating means on said side walls and supports for securing the casings to the supports.

6. In a treatment for a wall such as a ceiling, a conduit, members suspending the conduit from the ceiling at intervals, a partition comprising U-shaped metal casings enclosing the conduit with the conduit adjacent the base of the casings and in heat conducting relationship with the casings, said casings having sound pervious, upwardly extending side walls, supports carried by said suspension members above said conduit, cooperating means on said side walls and supports for securing the casings on the supports, and sound absorbing pads within said casings between said side walls.

7. In a treatment for a wall such as a ceiling, a conduit, means suspending the conduit from the ceiling, a partition comprising U-shaped metal casings enclosing the conduit with the conduit adjacent the base of the casings and in heat conducting relationship therewith, said casings having upwardly extending, perforate side walls, strips carried by the suspension means above the conduit, cooperating means on the strips and side walls to support the U-shaped members therefrom, and apertures in the strips to permit the entry of air to the interiors of the members.

8. In a treatment for a Wall such as a ceiling, a conduit, means suspending the conduit from the wall, a sound absorbing partition comprising U-shaped casings having sound pervious heat conducting and radiating walls, means positioning each casing with its walls enclosing the conduit and with the conduit adjacent the base of the U in heat conducting relationship with the casing and sound absorbing means within said casings.

ROBERT L. SIERING.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,771,268 Musgrave July 22, 1930 1,800,150 Musgrave et al Apr. 7, 1931 1,952,896 Rudorff Mar. 27, 1934 2,112,631 MacDonald Mar. 29, 1938 2,160,638 Bedell et a1. May 30, 1939 2,172,771 Norris Sept. 12, 1939 2,480,427 Stanton Aug. 30, 1949 2,527,031 Rambusch Oct. 24, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 403,899 Great Britain Sept. 4, 1933 540,678 Great Britain Oct. 27, 1941 347,536 Italy Apr. 12, 1937 

